Nebraskaland

42 Nebraskaland • March 2023 s winter's grip begins to loosen in early March, one of the fi rst tangible signs of spring comes in the form of one unusual bird's evening courtship display. Along with fi rst returning fl ocks of geese, sandhill cranes and a noticeable northward push of bald eagles, the American woodcock is one of our earliest arriving migratory birds, often laying claim to a small breeding site when snow is still on the ground. Limited information suggests woodcock has expanded its range in Nebraska since settlement by Euro-Americans, but what do we know about these birds and how they use Nebraska's diverse landscapes? And how far west have these birds pioneered? Even though the woodcock is both a game species and a species of conservation concern identifi ed by the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, there never has been a formal study directed on this species in Nebraska, or anywhere in the Great Plains for that matter. Until now. A recent study by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, in partnership with Audubon Nebraska, answered some of these questions and also revealed some unexpected fi ndings about this odd but fascinating species. Migration and Mating American woodcock, or timberdoodles as they are sometimes called, can best be described as quirky and are something of an oddity among their shorebird relatives. Woodcock are related to birds like snipes, yellowlegs, sandpipers and curlews. Yet all of these other species are typically associated with shorelines, water and wetlands. The woodcock, as the name implies, is in fact a forest or woodland-dwelling shorebird. It has a peculiar appearance with large eyes set back on its head and a long bill, adaptations that help this bird locate its preferred prey — earthworms — which it fi nds by probing in moist soil. Woodcock primarily occur in the extensive forested ecosystems of eastern North America. While several resources and maps still place Nebraska outside of the species' regular breeding and migratory range, the western extent of its range does, in fact, include eastern Nebraska. Despite this westward expansion, woodcock numbers have declined in eastern North America. Upon their arrival from areas in the southern U.S., males waste no time engaging in a courtship display. Taking place briefl y after sunset and often lasting not more than an hour, the display involves the male making elaborate spiraling fl ights with twittering wings above an open fi eld. The male eventually lands in a bare patch of ground, where it then makes a series of loud, nasally "peent" calls. After calling, the bird once again takes fl ight and repeats the display. Males may also briefl y display in the mornings before sunrise. The woodcock's spring courtship display is about the only time during the year when this species makes its presence known and allows itself to be detected. Just ask any woodcock hunter about how easy it is to fi nd these birds in the fall: It's a little tricky. Other than when males are displaying, this cryptically colored bird usually stays hidden in dense, shrubby vegetation or woodlands and is generally most active in the morning and evening. To Catch a Woodcock Tracking animals to determine their movements and answer questions about habitat use has undergone quite a revolution in the last decade or so. For many years, biologists were relegated to using radio tags that had limited range and required researchers to be relatively close to their subject in order to track the animal and determine its location. Satellite transmitters using GPS technology have greatly improved research capabilities. Not only can an animal be tracked worldwide, location data collected by the satellite tags are sent to a system of satellites that can be downloaded from the comfort of one's offi ce. A shortcoming for many years, though, is that satellite tags were quite large and heavy, two Timberdoodles on the Plains How a forest-dwelling shorebird makes a living in Nebraska's prairies A By Joel Jorgensen and Stephen J. Brenner Photos by Eric Fowler A male American woodcock performs a courtship display in an open grassland at Branched Oak Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County.

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